Three Filipino fishermen were wounded and two fishing vessels sustained significant damage after Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine coast guard said Saturday.
South China Sea Dispute: Filipino Fishermen Targeted
Nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats near Sabina Shoal were targeted with water cannons and blocking maneuvers on Friday, according to Manila’s coast guard. The Chinese coast guard also reportedly cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats, placing crews in danger.
“The PCG calls on the Chinese Coast Guard to adhere to internationally recognised standards of conduct, prioritising the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardize the lives of innocent fishermen,” the Philippine coast guard stated.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Friday, China’s coast guard said it had driven away multiple Philippine vessels and taken “control measures.”
Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said Saturday that the Chinese statement was an admission of wrongdoing. “They admitted this evil wrongdoing to ordinary Filipino fishermen,” Tarriela said.
Philippine coast guard vessels deployed to assist the injured fishermen were repeatedly blocked from reaching Sabina Shoal. Despite the interference, the coast guard successfully reached the fishermen and provided medical attention and supplies.
Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Reef by China and Escoda Shoal by the Philippines, is located within the Philippine exclusive economic zone 150 km (95 miles) west of Palawan province.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a waterway carrying over $3 trillion in annual commerce, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled that Beijing’s sweeping claims have no basis under international law, a decision China rejects.
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